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 The 'gap year' phenomenon: not just for college grads“Gap Years” are a park phenomenon in the United Kingdom, and so across Europe. In the United States, nevertheless, few are familiar with the conception. "Gap Year" is the time taken off betwixt two stages of life"normally by pupil between high school and college"to traveling, volunteer and explore the world. But Gap Years can also be taken by grownup before moving onto a new community, a new matrimony or merely as a calling break.Gap Years are meant to not just explore new topographic point and civilization, but also to learn new accomplishment and discover new things about yourself. [Gap Year pupil play with small town children in Republic of Madagascar. Some 150,000 Brits last year went on Gap Year Trips. Americans, as a rule, have yet to discover the Gap Year phenomenon.] (Photo: Karen Foerstel) Gap Years originated in the UK in the 1960s when young Brits headed off to the infamous “hippie trail” in India. But the industry truly exploded in the 1990s. The defender newspaper study that the UK Gap Year marketplace was valued at £5 one million million (about $10 one million million USD) in 2005. It is predicted to rise to $40 one million million by 2010. Gap Year traveling is increasing by 11 percentage each year and 150,000 Brits participated in Gap Year traveling last year. Gap Years are such a part of the British people experience that an stallion industry has evolved around them. There are Gap Year shows each year where traveling and military volunteer agencies exhibit their wares to people looking for escapade in far off lands. And in 1998, the website Gapyear.com was launched providing tips and listings for traveling and military volunteer opportunities about the world. Numerous other websites have emerged since then providing easy entree to info about military volunteer and escapade travel chance. Gapyear.com estimates that 230,000 18- to 24-year-olds set off on a big trip each year. An additional 90,000 career gappers aged 25 to 35, and 220,000 retirees aged 55 to 65 also set off each year to take an extended vacation or volunteer excursion to exotic places around the world. And this summer, an on-line reality show is being launched that will follow six young people as they travel the world. The show, called “The Gap Year,” is created by the reality television production company Endemol UK and the social networking internet site Bebo. Six young people from the UK, Ireland, America, Canada, Australia and New Zealand will “face an array of challenges and surprises as they experience new cultures, meet new people, savour exotic food, experience cultural events, outdoor activities and entertainment and even meet local celebrities.” These Gap Yearers will chart their travels through blogs, photos and videos posted on-line through Bebo.com. During their search for contestants, producers said they received an overwhelming number of applications from the UK, New Zealand and Ireland. Applications from the U.S., Canada and Australia, however, were few in coming. So why have Americans not yet discovered Gap Years? Many believe it is because of American culture that stresses economic independence. After graduating from high school, most students either enter the work force or go directly to college with the hopes of quickly getting a degress and finding a stable and well-paying job. The high cost of college tuition is also a factor. Most American students have to save money or take out massive student loans to attend college. Unlike in the UK, where college tuition is relatively low, American students don’t always have the luxury of spending thousands of dollars to take a year off and travel the world volunteering their time. What do you think? Why has the Gap Year phenomenon not swept the United States? I personally think students"and adults"can learn more by traveling the world then by spending a year behind a desk. Let me know your opinion. Experience At-a-Glance More Volunteer Abroad Articles |